But Vanya kept laughing. "They won't come. I unhooked the receiver at the nurse's station. We're all alone, Annja. And now I can finally finish what I started."

She slashed at Annja's throat. Annja ducked and then kicked up at Vanya's kneecap. The kick landed square and Vanya grunted as the heel landed flush. But her leg didn't buckle.

"That works better if the leg is straightened," Vanya said. Then she punched Annja across the jaw.

The blow sent Annja reeling. She toppled over the bed, landing on her feet near the door. She made a run for it, but the door was locked.

"I've got the key right here," said Vanya. "You're welcome to try and take it from me."

Annja tried to summon the sword again. It was a little more clear, but she still couldn't see clearly enough to bring it out.

Vanya edged closer again and, this time, when she slashed, the edge of the scalpel bit into Annja's forearm, scoring a line from the wrist to the elbow. Annja glanced down and saw a flap of skin hanging loose. Blood poured from the wound and spilled across the sheets and the floor.

Annja slid back toward the wall, gripping her arm. Vanya came closer. "I'll make it quick," she said.

Annja lashed out with another kick and landed it square in Vanya's stomach. Vanya doubled over and backed away.

I've got to get the sword, Annja thought.

But then Vanya was coming at her again, cutting and slas.h.i.+ng with the scalpel.

Annja fell back under the a.s.sault, and when she tried to check Vanya's advance, Vanya grabbed her wounded arm and Annja screamed. Vanya's nails sank into the exposed muscle and tendons and crushed them under her grip.

The pain nearly caused Annja to pa.s.s out.

But she used all of her strength to throw Vanya back across the room. The woman slammed into the wall opposite the bed and fell to the floor. But she immediately scrambled to her feet and came running again.

"You're not going to make it out of here alive, Annja Creed," she shouted as she cut down with the scalpel. This time, it stuck into the exposed bone in Annja's forearm.

Annja screamed again and tore her arm away from Vanya's grasp, the scalpel jutting out at an awful angle. Annja glanced down at the blade and yanked it free. Then she stalked Vanya.

But Vanya pulled out another scalpel and the two of them circled.

Vanya feinted and came in with a straight stab. Annja sidestepped the thrust and slashed across the top of Vanya's forearm, drawing blood for the first time.

Vanya let out a shriek and then retreated, but still kept her blade in front of her.

Annja, woozy from the injuries, advanced but slowed down.

Vanya backslashed at Annja, who checked the blow and then stabbed into Vanya's stomach with the scalpel. The cut was superficial, but Vanya staggered back, clutching at her abdomen.

Vanya suddenly flew at Annja and the rush of energy toppled them back over the bed. The nightstand yielded to their body weight, splintering and breaking into pieces.

Jagged bits of wood scattered about them and Vanya raised herself up, grabbing one of the coa.r.s.e pieces. She brought it down on Annja's head.

Annja felt the impact and nearly lost consciousness. But she fought back against the rising tide of blackness, punching at Vanya and scoring a direct hit on the older woman's face.

Vanya's nose cracked and a stream of blood shot out, staining an already slick floor.

Annja tried to stand but her head throbbed. I can't take much more of this, she thought.

For a moment, her vision wavered and then Annja sank to the floor. She closed her eyes and prayed that she would see the sword. She needed it now.

The sword materialized in her mind's eye. She grabbed it and opened her eyes just in time to see Vanya rus.h.i.+ng at her with everything she had.

Annja slid back down against the wall, the sword held up in front of her.

Vanya's eyes locked onto the blade and then, with a scream, she slipped on the b.l.o.o.d.y floor and pitched onto the blade.

Annja felt a sickening lurch as Vanya's body hit the tip. There was a moment of tension and then Vanya's body slid down the blade, coming to rest on the floor at Annja's feet.

"You want the sword?" Annja said. "Now you've got it."

Annja slumped back against the wall and realized that the world hurt a whole lot more than she'd ever been willing to admit.

The door to her room flew open.

"Annja!"

Annja raised a hand weakly. "Here."

Garin's bulk rushed in and Annja couldn't believe how happy she was to see him.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"What are you saying? I look like c.r.a.p?"

Garin eyed Vanya. "I wondered if anyone might try to make an attempt on your life. I went to find the nurse who was acting strangely."

"Tuk said you were checking her out."

"I was. But not in the way you think." He looked over Vanya's body. "She had some fight in her, didn't she?"

"Almost too much," Annja said.

Garin stepped outside and called for a doctor. When he came back in, he knelt by Annja and looked at her arm. "This is going to take a while to heal."

"Great."

"Just can't stay out of the fights, can you?" He smiled at her and, despite feeling like death, Annja grinned back.

She heard a commotion out in the hallway. "Doctors are coming," she said.

Garin nodded. "Yeah, and you might want to put that blade away before anyone sees it."

Annja nodded. "Good point." The sword vanished.

Garin helped her get back to the bed. Annja felt the incredible strength in his body and wished that she could borrow some of it so she didn't feel quite so small and weak as she did just then.

Garin hovered over her. "You're going to be fine, Annja. It takes more than this to keep you down."

Annja smiled. "If you say so."

The doctors and nurses rushed in. Their shouts echoed down the hallways as they called for police, more nurses and a cleanup crew. Garin hovered close by and Annja got the distinct impression he wasn't going to let her out of his sight for a good long time.

That was fine. Because if Vanya had any friends looking for revenge, there was no way that Annja was going to be able to fend them off.

Garin leaned over her as the doctors and nurses started tending to her wounds. "Hang in there," he said.

She smiled weakly. "What else would I do?"

Garin backed up as more nurses came in and shooed him away from Annja's bed. She let herself be tended to, not really feeling much pain anymore-not really feeling much of anything. Her mind drifted and floated all around the hospital room. She saw the doctors studying her wound intently while one prepared to sew her up. Nurses and attendants hauled Vanya's body away with a sense of bewilderment on their faces. They could see that Vanya had impaled herself on something, but what? And where was the weapon now?

Garin steered their questions away but Annja wasn't worried. She knew that he could field all their concerns and keep everyone quiet about anything he wanted to. And she felt better that he was in the room with her.

"I'm going to sleep now," she said quietly.

39.

Annja opened her eyes to bright suns.h.i.+ne flooding her hospital room. One of the windows overlooked a courtyard and the scent of flowers hung in the air. She smiled and rose to take a shower.

She'd stayed in the hospital for just over a week, happy to take it easy for once. The doctors told her it would take a few more weeks for things to heal completely, but they had also told her she was strong enough to go home.

Annja's single bag lay on the bed and she rummaged through it, looking at the variety of clothes Garin had purchased to replace what she'd lost early on in the trip. She settled on jeans and a turtleneck sweater.

As she carefully pulled on the clothes and then brushed her hair, a knock sounded at the door.

Before she could respond Garin's face appeared around the corner. "Are you indecent?" he asked. He frowned when he saw she was already dressed. "d.a.m.n, I was hoping to time it better."

Annja smiled. "Really? You're resorting to a quick game of peekaboo? Is it that thrilling?"

"Depends on the woman," Garin said. "With you, peekaboo would definitely be a highlight."

"Keep dreaming, then," Annja said.

"I shall." Garin nodded at the bag. "Just about finished?"

"Yeah. Thanks for the clothes."

"Least I could do. After you nearly died on this adventure. I figured clothes shopping might not be high on the old priority list. Plus, there was the incredibly beautiful salesgirl-"

"Garin."

He held up his hands. "Sorry, just kidding. You know I have to reinforce my reputation any chance I get."

"Well, give it a rest, would you? It wears on me lately."

Garin sat by the window and watched her.

Annja finished packing her bag. "You know, there's one thing that's been bothering me about this whole thing."

"What's that?" Garin turned to peer out of the window.

"You."

He glanced at Annja. "Me? What about me?"

"Well, you hired Tuk to watch over me. But why? I mean, if you were so concerned about my safety, then why on earth didn't you just come here yourself and take care of the danger?"

"It's not always that easy, Annja."

"Baloney. I've never known you to back away from a fight. And now all of a sudden you start? It doesn't make sense."

Garin smiled. "I wasn't backing away from anything. But at the same time, I needed a low profile."

"Why?"

"Because I didn't know who was after you until Tuk started relaying information to me. And even then, it took me a while to piece things together. When he told me about Hsu Xiao, I had to go back and search through my databases and ones I'm not supposed to have access to. Even then I was playing catch-up the entire way."

"I guess."

Garin stood in front of her. "Believe me, Annja, if there'd been a way for me to take this off of you, I would have. But I couldn't risk it without having concrete proof, and by then things were so far in motion already, I couldn't get to you in time. I had to rely on Tuk. And thank G.o.d he turned out to be as formidable as he was."

Annja looked at him. "Why do I get the feeling you're not telling me everything?"

Garin sighed. "You're so d.a.m.ned intuitive it drives me crazy. And honestly, I forget who I'm dealing with sometimes. You're not just a pretty face, are you?"

"I'm not a pretty face, right now," Annja said, smiling.

"I couldn't be here in Katmandu because I'm too well known. As it was, I took a great chance coming to hire Tuk."

"Who knows you?"

Garin shrugged. "The better question might be who doesn't know me?"

"Tsing?"

Garin nodded. "We did some work together a while back. He knew me very well and...let's just say that it didn't end well."

"In what way?"